Sonoma school district food services manager Cody Williams resigns

Cody Williams, Sonoma Valley Unified School District’s food services manager, has resigned to accept a bigger job with the Novato school district, effective Tuesday, Sept. 17.

Williams, 40, said he will be overseeing a staff of 35 in Novato, up from 24 in Sonoma, with a director title.

Williams has been running Sonoma’s lunch programs on all campuses for the past seven years.

“Since I came into this position seven years ago we have been able to consistently grow student meal participation each month,” he said. “That is a testament to our commitment to a quality food service program and listening and servicing the students, staff and families needs.” Williams also noted his active collaboration with the district’s garden and horticulture programs.

Williams said he looks forward to staying engaged as a parent in the SVUSD community and supporting the Flowery garden program where his daughter is a student.

His wife, Amber Williams, left a teaching job at Prestwood Elementary School last year to accept a post as assistant principal at Hellen M Lehman and Hidden Valley Elementary in Santa Rosa.

Prior to taking the job in Sonoma Valley, Cody Williams was a chef at Boon Fly restaurant at the Carneros Inn. He had also held chef positions at the Fairmont Mission Inn and at Mohonk Mountain House in New York.

During his time with the Sonoma school district, he served on the California State Board of Education Child Nutrition Advisory Council and the Culinary Institute of America’s Healthy Kids Collaborative.

Williams holds a degree from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 18, Andrea Deely, adeely@sonomaschools.org, will be the contact person for the food and nutrition Services department until a replacement has been hired.